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Gateway Cities Innovation Institute unveiled

The Lowell Sun

Updated:
10/17/2012 11:53:27 AM EDT

BOSTON -- The Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, a new entity that will use research, polling and policy development for the purpose of revitalizing former manufacturing centers in the state, will be officially launched at the Statehouse at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

The institute was formed by MassINC, an independent think tank that publishes Commonwealth magazine, along with sponsors, members, fellows and public officials.

Benjamin Forman, MassINC research director and executive director of the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, said the institute's work will be focused initially in areas that are both critical and ongoing, such as education, housing, transformative investments, public safety, community health, transportation, and creative placemaking.

The institute will build membership, issue policy reports and host fellows from participating cities. Two fellows are from Lowell: Gregg Croteau, executive director of the United Teen Equality Center, and Fred Faust, president and founder of The Edge Group Inc. real-estate firm.

MassINC is credited with coining the term "Gateway Cities" in 2007 when it released a paper urging state officials to reinvest in depressed urban centers.

Since that time, officials from participating communities have formed an alliance in the Legislature, and pushed for state financial support -- including $10 million in the governor's fiscal 2013 budget for education, according to MassINC.

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Gateway Cities are now officially defined as those with between 35,000 and 250,000 people, with a median household income and level of education attainment below the state average.

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